In the build-up to the 2027 general elections, a regional engaging interactive political platform – The Odu’a House Initiative — a home-grown modeled after the Chatham House in the United Kingdom, has been unveiled in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
It is a neutral, respected and intellectually stimulating forum, supported by a properly documented archive for scholars, the media, policymakers and future generations.
According to the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the Southwest, It is intended to become a flagship platform where aspirants to elective offices can be invited to articulate, defend and debate their programmes and ideas before the people.
Mr. Demola Badejo, Regional President and former Ogun NUJ Chairman, announced the launch during a visit to Tribune Group’s management alongside key executives: Regional General Secretary Pastor (Mrs.) Adenike Olufadewa, Assistant General Secretary Alhaji Adekunle Adegbite, and Oyo State member Mr. Adeyanju S.
“We believe that such a platform can contribute significantly to improving the quality of political discourse and democratic accountability in our region. Against this background, our specific request today is that the Tribune Group should partner with us on the Odu’a House Initiative.
“To demonstrate the seriousness we attach to this project, our Regional President (Badejo) was, only last week, at Chatham House in the United Kingdom to explore possibilities for technical support and guidance for the initiative.
“We are also engaging with the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) with a view to having the broadcast media as partners in the project.
“Our visit to the Tribune Group is of particular importance to us. We recognise that no meaningful development agenda can succeed without effective communication. A good idea that is not properly communicated may never receive public understanding or support.
“Similarly, sound policies and well-conceived programmes require credible platforms through which their objectives, benefits and potential impact can be explained to the public.
“We therefore do not see the media merely as an avenue for reporting what government, civil society or development organisations do.
“We see the media as a strategic partner in development, advocacy, public enlightenment and democratic accountability.
“The choice of the Tribune Group as a partner in this initiative is neither accidental nor merely strategic. It is deeply rooted in history, ” Badejo said.
He added: “Established here in Ibadan in 1949 by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Tribune Group has, for more than seven decades, remained an important voice in the political, social, economic, educational and cultural development of the South-West and Nigeria.
“Through your various publications, you have provided a platform through which the aspirations, concerns and opinions of our people have been articulated.’’
Badejo noted that the newspaper has contributed to political enlightenment, public education, intellectual discourse and the promotion of accountability.
“You have reported, analysed and documented the changing political, economic and social landscape of our region and our country across generations.
“In many respects, therefore, the Tribune is more than a newspaper organisation. It is a living archive of our regional and national journey. Your long history, institutional memory and continued relevance have made the Tribune an important part of the institutional heritage of the South-West.
“On the other hand, the members of our Association possess several decades of experience in public administration, governance, policy formulation and implementation.
“We firmly believe that the combination of your institutional strength in media and communication with our reservoir of experience in governance and public administration can produce meaningful results for the South-West.
“There is, therefore, an urgent need for greater regional integration; improved infrastructure; enhanced economic cooperation among the six States; food security; industrialisation; employment opportunities for our teeming young population; improved education and healthcare; tourism and cultural development; and, perhaps most importantly, stronger and more effective institutions,’’ the president said.
Badejo said as men and women who had devoted substantial portions of our professional lives to the public service and who, during our active years, participated in policy formulation, administration and the implementation of programmes and projects across our respective States and, in many instances, at the national level, they do not regard retirement as the end of our contribution to society.
“Rather, we see retirement as a new opportunity to deploy our accumulated experience, institutional memory, professional networks and knowledge for the continued development of our region and our country.
He disclosed that the association had published a book titled, “Proposed Plan of Action for the Economic Development of the South-West Region,’’ which was launched by the six governors of the region, a copy of which was presented to the Tribune management on Wednesday.
Badejo said:“The publication represents our modest contribution to the continuing conversation on how the enormous human, agricultural, industrial, economic, cultural and tourism potentials of the South-West can be better harnessed for the benefit of our people.
“The underlying philosophy of the publication is our conviction that the six states of the South-West can achieve significantly more through greater cooperation, integration and coordinated development.’’
Receiving the association on behalf of the Tribune management, Dr. Taiwo Adisa, the General Editor, lauded it for giving back to the society after the retirement of members.
He also noted the initiative of the body for partnering with the SouthWest Commission, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and the Odu’a Investment Company Limited, which he described as the off-shoot of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s vision and programmes for the region.
He assured that Tribune was ready to partner with association on its various programmes especially the Odu’a House initiative, thanking the ex-bureaucrats for visiting the premier private newspaper in the Southwest which commemorated its 70th anniversary recently.
Earlier at Cocoa House, the iconic 25-storey building at the heart of Ibadan, Badejo had also pledged to collaborate and partner with the SWDC, DAWN Commission and Odu’a Company Limited to properly streamline the region’s development programmes at a strategic meeting with the organization.
He noted that the tripartite institutions provide a new and important platform for coordinated intervention, infrastructural development and other developmental initiatives across the region.
The Group Managing Director of Odu’a Lmited, Mr. Yinusa Abdulrahman, had described the company as rich in assets but low in performance before they took over.
He disclosed that Premier Hotel, Ibadan, had been rehabilitated and reconstructed from about 86-room to 108 while the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, was also being upgraded to an international tourist destination with modern shopping mall, hospital and other facilities.
Abdulrahman said the company was exploiting the location of the Lekki Deep Seaport to revive the Epe Plywood Industry and also establish a phone factory and vehicle assembly plant there for local and international market.
On the vision of the new management for the six states, he said:“Our plan is to go very far.’’